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WISCONSIN  LIBRARY  BULLETIN 


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AMERICAN  LIBRARIES 

V 

Some  American  University  Libraries  We  Should  Know 

By  Phineas  L.  Windsor,  librarian.  University  of  Illinois. 


The  country  has  so  many  university  and 
college  libraries,  and,  though  fewer,  still 
so  many  really  good  ones,  that  it  is  not 
easy  to  single  out  a few.  These  rather 
sketchy  accounts  are  confined  to  fifteen  of 
the  larger  libraries,  but  everyone  knows 
that  a smaller  library  may  do  its  work  even 
better  than  the  large  one.  If  a proper 
scorecard  were  devised  and  all  the  libraries 
big  and  little,  were  judged  according  to  it 
by  a number  of  qualified  people,  the  list 
of  fifteen  would  no  doubt  undergo  changes. 

Excepting  one,  each  of  the  fifteen  has 
over  200,000  volumes,  and  the  great  cry 
is  for  more  books,  more  books.  If  a 
university  hopes  to  keep  all  its  best  profes- 
sors, if  it  hopes  to  attract  graduate  stu- 
dents, its  resources  in  books  must  be 
reasonably  adequate,  and  collections  of 
special  strength  are  of  increasing  import- 
ance. Altogether  these  libraries  are  spend- 
ing a half  million  dollars  a year  for  books, 
binding  and  periodicals. 

Most  of  the  information  has  been 
gathered  from  such  printed  sources  as 
university  catalogues,  sometimes  unreliable, 
from  Dr.  Johnstons  “special  collections,” 
the  American  Library  Annual,  and  from 
the  statistics  of  university  libraries  com- 
piled by  Mr.  Gerould.  There  has  been 
no  attempt  at  completeness,  and  but  little 
at  uniformity  in  treatment;  the  aim  has 
been  to*  bring  together  briefly  just  a few 
of  the  facts  about  each  library  which 
justifies  us  in  wishing  to  know  more  about 
it  as  an  American  university  library. 

Harvard  University  library,  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  (1,181,000  volumes  and 
700,000  pamphlets)  has  long  been  ad- 
ministered with  conspicuous  ability  and 
has  resources  for  study  and  research 
equalled  by  no  other  American  university 
library.  To  give  even  a bare  list  of  the 


subjects  in  which  this  library  has  notably 
strong  collections  would  require  too  much 
space  for  this  article;  only  a few  will  be 
named.  The  books  on  folklore,  including 
legends,  superstitions,  magic  and  mediaeval 
romances,  altogether  numbering  over  13,- 
300  volumes,  form  perhaps  the  largest 
collection  on  this  subject  in  existence. 
The  German  history,  or  Hohenzollern 
collection  (18,600  volumes)  would  be  a 
notable  one  even  in  Germany.  The  law 
library  (161,000  volumes)  provides  un- 
equalled facilities  for  the  study  of  law. 
The  four  thousand  books  on  the  history  of 
the  Ottoman  Empire  form  one  of  the  best 
collections  on  this  subject  ever  brought 
together. 

The  French  history  collection  (23,000 
volumes)  and  that  of  American  history 
(51,000  volumes)  are  notably  strong.  Of 
incunabula  there  are  nearly  a thousand. 
Pope,  Milton,  Chaucer,  Shakespeare,  Dante 
and  Tasso  are  a few  of  the  authors  more 
completely  represented.  In  English  litera- 
ture alone  there  are  31,000  volumes.  The 
collection  on  the  theatre  (2,600  volumes)  is 
unique,  and  includes  thousands  of  play- 
bills, prints  and  autograph  letters.  Most 
of  the  sets  indexed  in  Poole  are  in  the 
library,  and  most  of  the  publications  of  the 
great  learned  societies. 

The  new  Widener  Memorial  Library 
building  was  completed  in  1915  and 
presented  to  the  University  by  Mrs. 
Widener  in  memory  of  her  son  who  was 
lost  on  the  Titanic.  In  many  respects  this 
building  and  its  equipment  represent  the 
latest  and  best  thought  in  university 
library  architecture,  and  is  a fitting  home 
for  Harvard’s  library.  A distinguishing 
feature  is  the  large  number  of  reading  stalls 
along  the  sides  of  the  book  stacks;  another 


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is  the  large  number  of  small  study  rooms  for 
professors. 

The  college  library  includes,  besides  the 
main  collection,  38  special  libraries  (al- 
together 80,000  volumes)  formerly  called 
class-room  or  laboratory  libraries.  The 
eleven  departmental  libraries  (altogether 

428.000  volumes)  are  administered  some- 
what more  independently  of  the  college 
library.  By  its  generosity  in  respect  to 
interlibrarv  loans,  the  Harvard  library  does 
much  to  assist  research  by  professors  in 
other  institutions.  Its  current  printed 
catalogue  cards  may  be  purchased  for  use 
in  other  libraries. 

Yale  University  library.  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  (1,000,000  volumes)  includes 
among  its  collections  the  Day  Missions 
library  of  over  15,000  volumes  and  pam- 
phlets, one  of  the  largest  in  the  world;  the 
Salisbury  collection  of  oriental  manu- 
scripts and  books,  the  Landberg  collection 
of  Arabic  manuscripts,  and  the  American 
Oriental  Society  library  (deposited  in  the 
Yale  library),  which  together  furnish 
exceptional  facilities  for  study  in  Semitics; 
the  J.  Sumner  Smith  Russian  library  of 

6.000  volumes;  and  the  Mason  library  of 
church  music. 

As  might  be  expected  of  so  large  a 
library,  Yale  is  frequently  called  upon  by 
other  libraries  for  loans  of  its  books. 

Brown  University  library,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  (225,000  volumes)  includes 
the  John  Carter  Brown  library  (20,000 
volumes),  known  everywhere  for  its  early 
and  rare  Americana.  Most  of  the  books 
in  this  special  library  were  printed  before 
1800.  A separate  building  is  provided  for 
its  use. 

The  University  library  proper  includes 
the  Harris  collection  of  American  poetry 
(15,000  volumes)  said  to  be  the  largest  in 
the  world;  the  Rider  collection  of  Rhode 
Island  history;  and  the  Church  collection 
(3,500  volumes)  on  South  America. 

Columbia  University,  New  York, 

besides  having  access  to  the  remarkable 
book  collections  of  the  metropolis,  has 
itself  built  up  a library  (630,075  volumes) 
which  in  size  ranks  third  among  American 


universities.  Its  Avery  architectural  lib- 
rary (23,000  volumes),  since  1911  has 
occupied,  with  the  architecture  depart- 
ment, a separate  building  and  is  one  of  the 
country’s  notable  collections.  In  phil- 
osophy and  education  the  library  is  re- 
markably strong.  The  Townsend  library 
of  national,  state  and  individual  war 
records,  is  another  of  special  collections. 

Columbia  is  one  of  the  half-dozen 
university  libraries  most  frequently  called 
upon  by  other  libraries  for  loans  of  books. 

The  library  building  was  given  in  1897 
by  Seth  Low,  at  that  time  President  of 
the  University;  architecturally  it  is  un- 
usually dignified  and  beautiful  and  is 
worthy  its  commanding  site  near  the 
Hudson.  No  other  American  university 
library  building  is  so  often  pictorially 
reproduced;  it  belongs  to  the  whole 
country. 

Princeton  University  library,  Prince- 
ton, N.  J.,  (373,224  volumes)  outgrew  the 
old  Chancellor  Green  library  building  and 
now  occupies  both  that  and  the  new  Pyne 
library  building,  the  two  being  connected 
by  the  delivery  room.  Special  collections 
include  the  Morgan  collection  of  Vergils 
(672  volumes);  the  Garrett  collection  of 
Oriental,  chiefly  Arabic,  manuscripts  (2,400 
volumes);  the  Pierson  civil  war  collection 
(6,691  volumes,  besides  pamphlets  and 
clippings);  and  a collection  of  cuneiform 
documents  (1,100  tablets).  The  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary  library,  which  is 
separately  administered,  adds  large  col- 
lections in  theology  and  church  history. 

The  University  of  Pennsylvania  lib- 
rary, Philadelphia,  (421,097  volumes)  has 
unusually  rich  collections  in  finance  and 
political  economy;  in  the  classics,  the 
Leutsch  library  alone  numbering  20,000 
volumes;  in  works  on  the  American  drama; 
and  in  Dante  literature. 

Johns  Hopkins  University,  Balti- 
more, like  most  universities  in  large  cities, 
depends  more  or  less  on  other  libraries  in 
the  city.  Its  own  library  (190,814  volumes) 
has  consisted  largely  of  departmental 
collections  and  in  the  new  $600,000  Gilman 
Hall  recently  completed  on  the  new 


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WISCONSIN  LIBRARY  BULLETIN 


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campus,  the  essential  convenience  of  this 
arrangement  will  be  preserved. 

Among  the  special  collections  in  this 
library  is  one  of  the  official  publications  of 
American  trade  unions,  said  to  be  probably 
the  best  in  the  country;  and  another  of 
books,  pamphlets,  manuscripts  etc.  re- 
lating to  southern  history,  the  Civil  war, 
and  slavery. 

Cornell  University  library,  Ithaca, 

N.  Y.,  (461,129  volumes)  includes  a large 
number  of  notable  collections;  among  them 
are  the  President  White  historical  library 
(20,000  volumes)  strong  in  the  history  of 
the  Reformation,  the  French  revolution, 
the  American  Civil  war,  and  superstitions; 
the  Spinoza  collection  (525  volumes); 
probably  the  largest  in  existence;  the  Dante 
collection  (7,500  volumes);  the  Petrarch 
collection  (4,000  volumes);  the  Icelandic 
collection  (10,000  volumes);  and  the 
Zarncke  library  of  German  literature  and 
philology  (13,000  volumes).  Printed  cata- 
logues of  several  of  these  collections  have 
been  issued  by  the  library. 

The  Library  building  has  become  in- 
adequate to  present  day  needs,  but  when 
built  was  a very  satisfactory  one.  Its 
beautiful  tower  is  a prominent  architectural 
feature  of  the  campus. 

The  University  of  Michigan  library, 
Ann  Arbor,  (352,718  volumes)  is  soon  to 
have  a new  building,  a welcome  relief  from 
its  long  overcrowded  one.  The  McMillan 
Shakespeare  library  (6,525  volumes);  the 
Parsons  library  of  political  economy 
(6,076  volumes);  and  the  Goethe  library 
(1,131  volumes)  are  among  its  special 
collections. 

The  Library  Staff  Manual,  issued  by 
Mr.  Koch  a few  years  ago,  deserves  men- 
tion. 

The  University  of  Chicago  library, 
Chicago,  (458,616  volumes)  though  not 
an  old  one  is  nevertheless  one  of  our  large 
libraries,  and  is  frequently  used  for  inter- 
library  loans,  especially  by  institutions  in 
the  middle  west.  Its  special  collections 
include  the  Colwell  library  of  Bibles 
(8,000  volumes),  probably  the  best  col- 


lection of  translations  known;  the  Howard 
collection  on  matrimonial  institutions;  and 
the  Durrett  library  of  western  history. 

The  Harper  Memorial  library  building 
was  dedicated  in  1912  and  will  ultimately 
provide  shelf  room  for  a million  volumes. 
The  large  reading  room  on  the  top  floor 
will  connect  with  reading  rooms  on  the  top 
floors  of  adjoining  buildings  devoted  to 
special  subjects.  The  principal  stacks  are 
in  the  basement. 

The  library  is  being  reclassified  according 
to  the  Library  of  Congress  classification;  its 
current  printed  catalogue  cards  can  be 
purchased  by  other  libraries. 

From  the  beginning,  the  departmental 
libraries  have  been  well  developed. 

The  University  of  Illinois  library, 
Urbana,  (326,893  volumes)  occupies  a 
beautiful  but  now  inadequate  building. 
Fifteen  departmental  libraries  and  reading 
rooms  are  maintained,  eight  of  which  have 
from  ten  to  twenty  thousand  volumes  each. 
The  library  is  strong  in  the  classics,  in 
architecture,  in  municipal  publications,  in 
economic  entomology,  in  finance,  labor, 
and  mathematics.  A list  of  serials  in  the 
library  was  issued  in  1911. 

The  University  of  Wisconsin  library, 
Madison,  (235,400  volumes)  and  the  State 
Historical  Society  library  (185,000  vol- 
umes), occupy  the  same  beautiful  and  well 
planned  building  and  together  form  a 
notable  collection.  The  Society’s  resources 
in  American  and  English  history,  especially 
Mississippi  Valley  history,  give  it  acknowl- 
edged leadership  in  this  field.  The  Uni- 
versity library  includes  the  J.  J.  Hill  Rail- 
road library  (9,000  volumes) ; and  a collec- 
tion of  Norse  Sagas  and  Norse  literature, 
in  part  the  gift  of  Ole  Bull.  The  Society 
and  the  University  together  have  secured 
the  Schlueter  collection  of  books  on  German 
socialism,  said  to  be  most  complete. 

The  University  of  Minnesota  library, 
Minneapolis,  (207,406  volumes)  has 
among  its  collections  one  of  8,500  mono- 
graphs on  anatomy;  about  10,000  volumes 
on  Scandinavian  history  and  literature; 
and  2,000  monographs  on  ophthalmology. 


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WISCONSIN  LIBRARY  BULLETIN 


The  University  of  California  library, 
Berkeley,  (304,662  volumes)  occupies  the 
new  building  erected  in  1911  and  paid  for 
by  the  bequest  of  Charles  F.  Doe.  An 
addition  to  the  building  is  being  planned. 
The  unique  Bancroft  collection  (50,000 
volumes)  of  manuscripts  and  books  relat- 
ing to  the  Pacific  Coast  and  southwestern 
history  will  alone  give  this  library  dis- 
tinction. 

Leland  Stanford  Junior  University 
library,  Stanford  University,  Cal., 

(263,657  volumes)  occupies  the  Thomas  W. 
Stanford  library  building.  Among  its 


May,  1916] 

special  collections  are  the  Hopkins  railway 
library  (10,000  volumes);  the  Hildebrand 
library  (5,000  volumes)  chiefly  relating  to 
the  German  language;  and  the  Lane 
medical  library  (35,000  volumes),  which 
occupies  a separate  building  near  the  other 
medical  buildings  in  San  Francisco. 

Note:  By  a typographical  error  on 
page  58  of  the  February,  1916  Bulletin  a 
cypher  was  dropped  and  the  number  of 
volumes  was  given  as  200,00  instead  of 

200.000  while  the  circulation  was  given  as 

1.500.00  instead  of  1,500,000. 


